Watchcase



S. ZULLO July so, 1929.

vm'rcqcAsn Filed Feb. 18, 1926 INVENTOR JhMt/tl 101w BY I W'MMM ATTORN EYJ Patented July 30, 1929.

UNITED STATES V SAMUEL ZULLO, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

WATCHCASE.

Application filed February My invention relates broadly to watch cases, and more particularly to those watch cases which are of irregular shape.

The common method of securing watch crystals in watch case-s, namely, that of snapping the crystal into the bezel of the watch case, is comparatively simple when only circular crystals and circular cases are used. In this case, the case is machined and the crystal is ground mechanically so that they fit each other exactly.

It is another problem when crystals of irregular shapes are to be inserted in their respective watch cases. In this case, it

practically impossible to grind the crystal mechanically so that it fits exactly the watch ease. The grinding must be done by hand and this takes a considerable amount of the time of a highly paid and highlyskilled 2 Workman. And even then the crystal will not fit the case exactly. Then when the crystal is snapped into the bezel, the angular corners are extremely apt to break when the attempt is made to force the crystal into the bezel.

The same difficulty is encountered when a repairman attempts to replace a broken crystal.

My invention has for its object the provision of means whereby the crystal is readily and easily slipped into place and secured without any likelihood of breaking the corners or edges of the crystal.

My invention consists primarily of a pliable strip, finger, prong, pin, or other piece of metal or suitable material secured to the watch case and bent over a portion of the crystal to hold it in place.

In order that the nature of my invention may be clearly understood, I shall first describe in detail the present mode of carrying the invention into practice, and then point out the various features of the invention in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompany ing drawings forming part of this specification, in which like parts are designated by the same numerals in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a watch case embodying the present preferred form of my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail in section of my invention as applied to a Watch ease having a different form of bezel.

18, 1926. Serial No. 89,192.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a watch case embodying my invention showing a crystal being inserted in place.

In Figures 1, 2, and 4, numeral (3 designates the case of a wrist watch of irregular shape. The case is shown as being octagonal in shape, but it will be understood that the invention is applicable to other-shaped watches equally as well.

7 represent-s the bezel of the watch having a straight angular shoulder 8 and a rey ersely bent shoulder 9. The crystal 10 is inserted in place from the outside of the watch, and rests upon shoulder 9.

To secure the crystal in place upon the shoulder 9 and prevent it from falling out. I prefer to employ pliable fingers 11 secured to the watch case 6 and bent over the bezel so that a portion of each finger 11 projects over a portion of the crystal.

It will be understood that the fingers 11 may be secured to the watch case in any suitable manner, but I have shown them secured as by soldering to the outside of the rim of the watch case at the bottom so as to decrease the likelihood of the fingers breaking when they are bent back and forth. It is also evident that the particular shape and location of the fingers as shown is im material, a single finger or three fingers in each place serving just as well as the two fingers shown. Also, the fingers may be soldered or otherwise secured at the top of the rim without departing from the invention. It is also contemplated that instead of fiat fingers, prongs or pins may be used and these. prongs or pins inserted 1n the top of the bezel and then bent over the crystal.

lVhen the crystal is inserted for the first time, that is, at the factory, the fingers can be approximately vertical. The crystal is then placed in position and the fingers bent over to secure it in place. When the crystal is broken and a new one is to be inserted, it is only necessary to raise one or two fingers or sets of fingers. The crystal is then slid along the shoulder 9 as shown in Figure 4 under the figures already bent over, and then placed flat on shoulder 9 and the outstanding fingers again bent over the crystal.

In Figure 3, I have shown a watch case having a bezel 13 provided with an over hanging shoulder 14 and an inwardly projecting shoulder 15, thus providing a groove 16. Ordinarily with such bezels, the chance of breaking off the corners or edges of the crystal when the latter is snapped into place is very great. In this case, by the use of my invention I am able to decrease the overhang of the shoulder 14; to a minimum, as the fingers 17, similar in every respect to the fingers 11 in Figs. 1, 2, and 4: will support and secure the crystal in place.

t will thus be seen that I have provided a very simple, inexpensive, and efficacious means of securing a watch crystal in place and of replacing the watch crystal at any time with a minimum chance of breaking the edges or corners of the crystal during the insertion.

The invention is also applicable where unbreakable crystals are used. These crystals are commonly made of celluloid and shrink somewhat after exposure to the atmosphere. By using my novel fingers and watch cases, I prevent these unbreakable crystals from falling out after they have shrunk.

I do not restrict myself to the specific embodiments of my invention shown in the drawings, as it is evident that many changes may bemade in the specific construction and arrangement described without departing from the boundaries of my invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim as my invention l. A watch case having a bezel formed with a ledge tor the crystal around its inner edge, a crystal seated on the ledge, and strips of pliant metal secured to the rim of the Watch case and adapted to be bent and extended inwardly across the bezel and the edge of the crystal to secure the crystal in place, and to be lifted oil the crystal and bezel to permit the removal of the crystal. 2-. A watch case in accord with claim 1, in which the strips of pliable metal are secured to the lower part only of the rim, so that they can be bent over the bezel and crystal and lifted off the same repeatedly without breaking the strips.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. SAMUEL ZULLO. 

